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Mayor Barrett speaks out on permit issue

Mayor Tom Barrett says the city should stay out of immigration enforcement.

Barrett weighed in this weekend on the proposed ordinance that would require those applying or renewing permits or licenses to do business in the city of Milwaukee to show proof of citizenship or legal status to work here.

"The regulation of immigration is exclusively a federal power and the City of Milwaukee is not the appropriate jurisdiction to enforce the 1996 law enacted by the federal government," the mayor said in a statement.

Barrett continued: "The city currently provides licensing services that support business operations, are efficient and provide adequate protection for the public," he said. "It is my intention that these services will continue to be provided to the public in the future as they are today."

Common Council President Willie HInes, however, said Monday that the city continues to look into the measure that City Attorney Grant Langley suggested the city pass to comply with a 1996 federal law.

Right now the city is on a fact-finding mission to research the matter and see what should be done, he said.

Ordinances are up to the Common Council to pass and the mayor can only sign a measure, or not, Hines noted. If the council passes such a measure it could become law with or without the mayor's approval.

About Georgia Pabst

Georgia Pabst is a general assignment reporter whose areas of coverage include Milwaukee County government, the Latino community, non-profits and neighborhoods.